Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Management (QHSE) generally refers to a management operation mode which integrates the common elements of the ISO9001, OHSAS18001 and ISO14001 standards. A narrow definition of QHSE points to the management system used by the international oil and gas industry. A broad definition of QHSE refers to quality, health, safety and environment management that is suitable for all types of organizations (Han 2008). In general, QHSE is an organic, systematic and structural dynamic management system, which consists of implementing quality, health, safety, and environmental management by organization, duty, practice, process, procedure, resources and so on, through the use of a prevention guiding ideology, using the PDCA management method.

 

Establishing a Quality, Health, Safety, Environment (QHSE) management system provides an effective means of protecting employees’ health and safety, as well as the environment, and doing it in a cost-effective and well-planned manner. Based on the understanding that all accidents are the result of human error, and are preventable, establishing QHSE management also results in overall better training and administration methods

 

Principles Of QHSE

A number of principles have been recognized as foundational to QHSE. These include:

• Management must fully support QHSE execution by all employees.

• All employees must participate, and comply with all QHSE policies, procedures, and rules.

• Individual employees are responsible for working safely and protecting the environment.

• Safety comes first; the goal is to eliminate all injuries and environmental incidents.

• Good practices don't “just happen” – they must be planned and properly executed.

• The potential for safety, health, or environment incidents should be eliminated during the planning stage.

• The QHSE system also applies to contractors.

• QHSE includes all aspects of a company's operation, including areas such as purchasing, transportation, and administrative services.

• All incidents must be reported, documented, and investigated. This allows performance tracking and continual improvement.

• Monitoring and assessment should be conducted regularly.

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QHSE is based on, and integrates the requirements of the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSSAS 18001 international standards.

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